Neighborhood - Ditmars Steinway

Queens, the legendary borough of New York that earns its crown as the state's most popular location, is exactly what you'd expect it to be: busy, diverse, often loud, walkable, and friendly. But it also offers up a few surprises. For example, while you will find the brick apartments with narrow alleys so popular throughout the Manhattan area, you'll also find quiet, tree-lined streets with majestic single-family homes that offer a definite suburban atmosphere. Queens offers some gorgeous parks -- and they aren't nearly as crowded as the ones in Brooklyn and Manhattan (be sure to visit Gantry Plaza State Park, Alley Pond Park, and Cunningham Park).

Queens extends from the East River to the Atlantic Ocean and includes an impressive stretch of beaches, ideal for summer weekends of sand and surf. No matter where you choose your apartment in Queens, you'll never be far from Oceanside or Rockaway Park. You'll also have easy access to John F.